Q&A for How to Choose a Pet

Check with other people in your household, or ask a couple of friends for their opinion. You could also do a little research and see which dog is most readily available in your area.

If you and your family understand that you can take up responsibilities for it, and if you are mature, then you are ready.

Research types of dogs and decide which breed is right for you. Consider if your willing to make commitment for the next 15 years or so. Then present this information to your parents. They might have questions, so be prepared to answer them. Show that you are responsible, and do chores without being asked.

Yes, but teach your dog to stay away from the cage, and keep the cage out of the dog's reach.

Usually, cheap aquariums aren't the best ones because they're missing a lot of tools you might need. For example, for a 10 gallon fish tank, it may be cheap, but you will need to buy an air pump. The more expensive ones will probably be the ones that are good quality. Go to a trusted pet store instead of one you think might be cheaper. For example, Pet Smart would be a good choice if you're willing to dish out a few extra bucks for a good aquarium, and they have shipping. But if you really want a cheap one, go to Kijiji. It has plenty of cheap aquariums for fish.

Yes. You can actually train fish to do things, such as jump through hoops. Check out the article on How to Train Your Fish to Do Tricks .

You can use the tank as a hamster or gerbil (but not guinea pig) cage, or you can put turtles in it.

You could do research on the pet you want to buy. Then you could plan a meeting with your parents and tell them all the information about the pet you choose. If they say yes, decide a name. If they say no, don't get upset. Tell them more about the pet.

It depends. Dogs require a lot of time and commitment. You have to train the dog, walk/exercise it every day and have the money to feed it properly and keep it healthy. Dogs need shots and vaccines, heartworm medication, and veterinary care. If you can provide all these things, dogs are great companions.

Yes. Guinea pigs should have friends, but they will need to be paired carefully. If a guinea pig has been living alone for some time, it might be happiest in a cage by itself with other guinea pigs nearby.

You can talk to it, feed it, and "play" with it by putting interactive objects at the bottom of its aquarium. There are lots of wikiHow articles about interacting with fish. Try How to Train Your Fish to Do Tricks for starters.

If you like training birds and you have some experience with smaller birds such as budgies, try a cockatiel or a Pyrrhura conure. Or if you want a very trainable bird, try an African Grey parrot. Just remember to do plenty of research before you get your pet!

Try to bring up the topic at a good moment - maybe after you did well on a test, during dinner, or some other time they're relatively happy. Try to carefully direct the conversation into that topic, don't just blurt it out. If your parents say you're not responsible enough, try asking what would help them see that you are. And maybe if your parents say, for example, that a dog is too much too soon, ask for a smaller pet, like fish or a hamster.

If you haven't already, find different kinds of frogs suitable for a pet. Then, learn about each kind. Look at all the facts and try to decide which one you would enjoy as a pet. If you aren't sure, ask your family and friends and see if they have any ideas.

If it is a big reptile, then yes. Smaller reptiles, like anoles, are known to be prey to birds. You can get a tegu or a really big lizard if you have a big bird like a macaw or cockatoo. No small reptiles. Geckos, monitor lizards (lace, ackie, dumeril's), skinks, uromastyxes, and other smallish medium reptiles are mostly suited in your case. Try to convince your parents by showing them which reptile you want. Once you have picked a reptile from the earlier list, search how to care for it. Showing that you know how to care for them properly can be persuasive.

It's all about convincing them that you're mature and responsible enough to handle the care on your own. Try the methods in Prove You're Responsible to Your Parents .

Hens are compatible with other birds. However, this could turn into a violent situation if there is insufficient room. If it is large enough, see how they do with each other first (under supervision), and gradually work your way from there. If the hen and lovebirds seem to not mind each other’s existence, they should be okay. So long as the cage is big enough and offers the birds enough entertainment, everything should go smoothly.

WikiHow has an article with numerous methods and multiple in depth (but simple) steps on how to care for tarantulas here: in How to Care for a Tarantula .

Research animals you are interested in to determine which would be best for you. Consider how much they’ll cost to keep, how much space they take up, how much time their care requires, and their lifespan.

Dogs will show their affection by leaning against you, curling up in your lap, or resting a nose or paw on you.

Tell your parents that dogs chasing cats is a common stereotype, and show them research to prove that dogs and cats can get along if they get used to each other.